HealthTree Foundation

The HealthTree Foundation is a patient-driven, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that empowers patients with rare diseases at each step of their disease journey - from diagnosis, through education, care, and on to a cure.
The Foundation was founded in 2012 by multiple myeloma patient Jenny Ahlstrom to simplify information for patients and encourage them to participate in clinical trials and to proactively support gaps in existing research funding.

Mission/Vision

The mission of the CrowdCare Foundation is to improve patient outcomes by removing barriers to a cure.

Type of Organization

Non-Profit/Community-Based Organization

Size of Organization

10-50

Organization Mailing Address

3315 Mayflower Way, Suite 2
Lehi, UT 84043
United States

https://crowdcare.org/index.html

HealthTree Cure Hub

https://www.healthtree.org/

HealthTree Cure Hub is a data platform that puts the power of artificial intelligence and precision medicine into the hands of everyday patients. It unlocks the power of their own medical data to enable them to find new treatments and accelerate a cure for previously incurable diseases.

While each patient is unique, there are patterns in successful care and outcomes that become obvious when the data is aggregated.

Therefore, we've created the HealthTree Cure Hub, a secure online patient portal that allows patients to aggregate and share their anonymized health data in order to build a database to further research for a cure. HealthTree Cure Hub is then able to offer patients curated personalized treatment options, disease help from patient advocates, education about their illness from specialists taught online courses and patient-specific health reports.

We took our "Crowd Care" innovation a step further and developed Twin Machine, an online option available through HealthTree Cure Hub that enables patients to connect with other patients who have similar cancer genetics. It then allows them to compare treatments and chat through a messaging platform, in order to ensure they are receiving the best care.

Additionally, HealthTree Cure Hub accelerates research by offering specialist generated survey or study opportunities through the portal. This research that traditionally takes years to accomplish is completed in a fraction of the time on HealthTree.

Through the HealthTree Cure Hub patients are able to find their optimal treatment for better care and increased survival, while simultaneously expedite research.

Category of Innovation

Digital Health - A digital health solution is a technology-based solution whose user is caring for or providing care for themselves (think of a personal app) or another individual (such as a doctor using a tool to help their patient)

Intended End User

Patient - Individuals who receive health care

Provider - Individuals or organizations responsible for providing care to patients (e.g. doctors, nurses, hospital/clinic administrators, etc.)

Researcher/Academic

Impactful Innovation Stage (Click Here for Details)

Impact

Problem (i.e. barrier, issue, complication, etc.) being solved for the end user

Research has shown that newly diagnosed patients may encounter a multitude of health care challenges with regard to their disease (i.e. rare diseases, cancers, etc.). At diagnosis, patients ask vital questions about their care but due to a lack of shared patient data each patient has to make these decisions relatively in the dark. Could aggregating patient health data remove these challenges and improve patient outcomes?

Idea/solution to the problem, if applicable

A free online patient-driven platform that provides complete access to participating patient health data.

Level of adoption (i.e. list of customers/users, testimonials, etc.), if applicable

- Over 8,500 users (patients) which equates to 5% of all those diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer.
- Support from major pharmaceutical companies (Adaptive, Celgene, Fidelity, Genentech, GSK, Sanofi, and Takeda)
- Support from institutions and specialists (Mayo Clinic - Scottsdale, Memorial Sloan Kettering, University of California - San Diego Health, and more).

- Out of many user testimonials, one patient, Steve R., recounts logging into HealthTree after receiving discouraging results regarding his multiple myeloma treatment options. He discovered a personalized treatment option that ultimately reversed his course for the better. He states, "For me, using HealthTree was a life-saving experience."

Impact (i.e. measurable outcomes), if applicable

500-1000 attendees per year to our specialist's moderated round tables for patients and caregivers.
4,000+ viewers of our 2020 virtual Round Table.
6,815 Number of personalized treatment options generated.
5 Scientific publications
4 in progress scientific publications

Funding Stage

Not Applicable

List of Funding Sources (if applicable)

Our funding comes from private (35%) and non-private (65%) donations.

Certifications?

Yes